Rail budget: Izzat Nagar gets Rs 125 crore

BAREILLY: Local residents hoping for better connectivity with Delhi and adjoining states were left wanting for more after the railway budget was presented by Union minister Suresh Prabhu, but Izzat Nagar division received a bumper Rs 125 crore for completing pending works, including conversion of metre gauge routes to broad gauge.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday evening, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Chandra Mohan Jindal said a lion’s share of Rs 80 crore was sanctioned to convert to broad gauge the route between Ramganga railway station and Bareilly railway station.This is expected to help in starting the Bareilly-Kasganj route, construction for which is expected to be completed by March 2015. Currently, tracks have been converted to broad gauge from Ramganga station to Kasganj.
Jindal added that Rs 30 crore has been sanctioned to convert another meter gauge track, connecting Bhojipura railway station to Pilibhit via Tanakpur railway station, into broad gauge. However, a railway official said on condition of anonymity that the sanctioned amount is not sufficient to complete the task.
The DRM added that Rs 5 crore was sanctioned for Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) workshop in CB Ganj, where railway engines will be manufactured and repaired. Railway officials said a proposal of Rs 37 crore was sent to the railway ministry, but Rs 5 crore was sanctioned, with which at least work can be commenced.
Meanwhile. PRO, Izzat Nagar division, Rajendra Singh said coaches which come to the workshop for repair will be fitted with bio-toilets. So far, the workshop has installed bio-toilets in 29 trains, he said.
Recently, inter-locking work was successfully completed between Bareilly Railway Station and Bareilly City Railway Station, which enabled connectivity between two major stations and provided a shorter route to Uttarakhand.
Taking strong note of accidents at unguarded railway crossings, a decision was taken to appoint gate mitras at all such crossings. North Eastern Railway has over 683 railway crossings under Izzat Nagar division, of which 241 are unmanned.